Sunday, May 1, 2016

A statue of AC/DC legend Bon Scott was officially unveiled in the late singer’s Scottish hometown of Kirriemuir on April 30 as part of the town’s 10th annual BonFest event.

The Courier reports sculptor John McKenna watched proudly as the covers were lifted to reveal the life-sized artwork of Scott, with microphone in one outstretched arm and a set of bagpipes tucked under the other.

The £45,000, 450kg bronze statue – funded by fans around the world – took McKenna three years to complete.

The crowd also included Bonfest special guests Mark Evans,Tony Currenti and Bob Richards who all played with the band, and Melbourne fashion designer Mary Renshaw, whose new book "Live Wire" charts her friendship with the singer who was her soulmate.

Mary told The Courier it was an emotional first-time visit to Scotland.

“It is a fabulous thing to be here for, I have made so many friends,” she said. “It has been a wonderful experience – and I thank Bon for that.”

The main Bonfest is a sell-out 1,000 ticket event, but John Crawford of organizers DD8 Music said some 3,000 fans had flocked to the town from across the globe for the weekend celebration.

Scott, who died in 1980 at the age of 33 after a night of heavy drinking in London, was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, but moved to Australia with his family when he was six.

The Scottish tribute marks the second landmark of Scott following the 2008 launch of a statue in his Australian home town of Fremantle.